Deception

Living in a world where appearances mask reality.

I was 226 meters beneath the earth's surface at the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa, touring what had been one of the most lucrative gold mines in the world. Felicia, our guide, explained that while the defunct mine still contained gold, it was too little to be worth mining. "You see," she said, waving her hand toward the wall of the tunnel we were walking through, "There is still gold here."

I pointed my flashlight at the rocky wall, where I indeed saw glittering specks of gold. "Yes, I see the gold," I announced, running my finger along the specks.

Felicia laughed. "That's not the gold. That's what they call 'fool's gold.' It's only 20% gold. People are fooled by its gold-like appearance."

"Then where's the real gold?" I queried.

How could something look so different than what it really is?

Felicia pointed to a shiny black spot of rock, as big as my fingernail. "This is real gold, 99% gold."

"But it doesn't look like gold at all," I protested. "It's black."

"That's right," Felicia agreed. "To make it look like gold, you have to go through a complicated process. First you crush the rock. Then you pulverize it, until it's like powder. Then you have to add cyanide, a deadly poison."

"And then the color turns to gold?"

"Not yet. At that stage, it looks like thick polish." Felicia went on to explain additional stages of the process until, finally, the gold looks like gold.

I stared at the shiny black spot on the wall, irked. How could something look so different than what it really is?

Appearances deceive. We seem to be stationary, but we are really sitting on a giant ball that is spinning at the speed of 1000 mph. Our planet itself is moving around the sun at 67,000 mph. Yet our perception swears that we are not moving.

The chair you are sitting on appears to be solid, but it is composed of spinning atoms, where the proportion of solid matter to empty space is much less than a fraction of 1%. The proportion of matter to space in the average atom is akin to a single baseball in the middle of a giant baseball stadium. In fact, scientists tell us that all the matter in the world would theoretically fit into a teaspoon. What you think of as solid matter is almost all empty space. But it appears, even to the trained physicist, to be so solid.

The final scientific death-blow to the world of appearances is quantum physics, with its mystifying, illogical, mind-boggling realities. Once thought to apply only to the micro-world of atoms and subatomic particles, quantum mechanics during the last decade has replaced classical physics (including Einstein's Theory of Relativity) as applying to the macro-world as well. As Dr. Vlatko Vedral, a physics professor at the University of Oxford, wrote in the June, 2011 issue of Scientific American: "Few modern physicists think that classical physics has equal status with quantum mechanics; it is but a useful approximation of a world that is quantum at all scales."

Thus the most advanced science substantiates the claim: We live in a world where appearances mask reality.

Physical Appearance vs. Spiritual Truth

From a Torah perspective, the most pernicious of all false appearances is the illusion of Divine absence, a world devoid of God. The Hebrew word for "world" is olam, derived from the root word meaning "hidden." God is deliberately hidden in our world.

God is deliberately hidden in our world.

Yet, in truth, God is not only the source of all that exists, but, as the Torah proclaims, Ein od milvado – nothing exists except God. This means that everything, including this phantasmagoric physical world, exists within God. Denying the existence of God is like a fish denying the existence of water.

This is not an abstract point. All the substantive choices we make are based on which world we believe in: the apparent physical world or its underlying spiritual reality. Yet, to penetrate beneath the mask of physical appearance requires a mental process more arduous than turning black rock into gold jewelry.

A world disconnected from its Divine source is a fool's gold world, which leads to choosing falsity over truth:

In a fool's gold world, if you steal money, you're richer.

In reality, if you steal money, you're diminished and poorer.

In a fool's gold world, if you deride and embarrass someone with a clever put-down, you come out on top.

In reality, if you deride and embarrass someone with a clever put-down, you damage yourself even more than you damage your victim.

In a fool's gold world, if you win an argument with your spouse, you've won.

In reality, every time you argue with your spouse, you've lost.

In a fool's gold world, cheating helps you pass your test.

In reality, if you cheat, you've failed your real test.

In a fool's gold world, if you give a large sum of money to charity, you have less.

In reality, if you give a large sum of money to charity, you have more. (As a wise woman said at the end of her life: "All I really have is what I gave away.")

In a fool's gold world, others in the same line of business are your competitors, and the more your competitor succeeds, the worse it is for you.

In reality, all of us are part of the whole, and the more the other succeeds, the better it is for the whole, which includes you.

In a fool's gold world, the worst eventuality is death.

In reality, the worst eventuality is a life devoid of meaning and purpose.

In a fool's gold world, your essential identity appears to be your body, so you invest your time, attention, and money in beautifying/strengthening/preserving the body.

In reality, your essential identity is your soul, so (while fulfilling the mitzvah to take care of the body) you invest most of your time, attention, and money in enhancing your awareness of and acting according to your soul.

Unearthing the real gold may require going deep below the surface and undergoing an intricate process of refinement, but is investing in counterfeit ever worth it?

Coming to Israel? The Riglers invite you to their home for "An Enchanted Evening in the Old City," with a Broadway-style musical show. For more information, click here.

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About the Author

Sara Yoheved Rigler is the author of Heavenprints, as well as the bestsellers: God Winked: Tales and Lessons from my Spiritual Adventures, Holy Woman, Lights from Jerusalem, and Battle Plans: How to Fight the Yetzer Hara (with Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller). She is a popular international lecturer on subjects of Jewish spirituality. She has given lectures and workshops in Israel, England, Switzerland, South Africa, Mexico, Chile, Canada, and over thirty American cities. A graduate of Brandeis University, after fifteen years of practicing and teaching meditation and Eastern philosophy, she discovered "the world's most hidden religion: Torah Judaism." Since 1985, she has been living as a Torah-observant Jew in the Old City of Jerusalem with her husband and two children. She presents a highly-acclaimed Marriage Workshop for women [seewww.kesherwife.com] as well as a Gratitude Workshop. To invite her to your community, please write to info@sararigler.com.

Visitor Comments: 22

(20)
Jaya,
March 2, 2014 3:48 PM

Deception

What a beautiful essay ! Every word was a gold nugget . Very significant lesson and beautifully put .thank you .

(19)
Anna,
February 28, 2014 5:48 AM

All the gold that I have ever seen that's been mined or panned looks ike, well, gold, it's never black-how would anyone know it was gold ? I've seen gold being panned & it's gold coloured. How did they know in the old days ? you don't think that the guide was having you on ?

(18)
Rachel,
February 27, 2014 8:57 PM

This is great

I was afraid (from the headline) that this was going to be some simplistic piece about anything from modest attire to caloric food. What a nice surprise!

(17)
Marta Fainberg,
February 27, 2014 6:10 PM

Panning for gold

Although tis is beyond the point of your article, I must admit that your beginning description was puzzling. My brother went panning for gold in a river as a school class project. What they found were chips and chunks of gold the color and appearance of jewelry! Not black rocks that needed treatment! The stories of the gold rush days in California always related the finding of the same items: gold nuggets, not black rock!

Yael,
February 27, 2014 8:27 PM

Both are correct

I looked up gold mining on Wikipedia. In a nutshell, some gold exists in an easily recognizable form (gold nuggets, etc.), while some must be extracted from rocks using a multi-step chemical process usually involving cyanide.

(16)
Michelle,
August 4, 2011 9:03 PM

thank you Sarah

as always what you wrote was just what i needed to see read and feel to know... i am not alone.
G-d bless you

(15)
anon,
July 30, 2011 8:57 PM

Sorry but if nothing exists except God that means God is responsible for every single thing that has happened in history. That means that God is writing these words in criticism of Himself and that God has just blown His mind.

Ayelet,
February 28, 2014 2:03 AM

Funny

Haha, that's great! Even though you could not add your comment if not for your being in time and space and your intricate mind as well as your body, your computer and so much more, you don't think it's G-d Who is allowing all that to work together just so? Do you think you are the first person in history to express yourself against Him? Do you think your comment bothers Him?

Sara Yoheved - I love this article as well as all of your other articles. Your insights are so wonderfully real, I still enjoy recalling your article "The Party." Can you recommend any scientific resources for the beginner that discuss concepts such as these? Thank you so very much.

(14)
Doreen,
July 30, 2011 1:40 AM

So simple yet so profound!!

Thank you for your insightful article - so much food for thought!!

(13)
Anonymous,
July 28, 2011 7:25 AM

Beautiful

Such important thoughts! When you illustrate the truth vs. what looks like the truth that way, it all seems so obvious. I agree that this article is a 'must read'.

(12)
Marcia,
July 27, 2011 1:44 PM

Grateful

I am deeply grateful to have read this beautiful story illuminating our responsibilities to seek G_d and to serve our fellows.

(11)
Frederica Steller,
July 27, 2011 12:20 AM

Things and situations aren't the same as they appear to be.

Your article is very insightful; in that mere appearances of something can be quite deceiving. People, too, can appear to be very quiet, and sedate; but, sometimes they act and talk in ways that displays their true colors. themselves.

(10)
Linda Gray Calderon,
July 26, 2011 3:53 PM

Wonderful truths

Wonderful and insightful true article. Thank you so much.

(9)
Neicee,
July 25, 2011 9:48 PM

Beautifully thoughts

Thank you again for another lovely article. I've always thought that great writers put words down that at first seem like a "I should have known that" moment. Later, it becomes "it was there in my heart, I simply needed to have it explained" to clarify it. Looking forward to your next "I should have known that" moment.

(8)
Isabel Benson,
July 25, 2011 3:27 PM

Just when I was worried that G-d did not seem to be as involved in the world as in old old times I open and read this. Blessings never cease.

(7)
Donna,
July 25, 2011 6:03 AM

Gold vs Fool's Gold

I found this article very informative, and very thought provoking.

(6)
EREMIA PHIRI,
July 25, 2011 5:44 AM

VERY ENCOURAGING ARTICLE.IT IS A EYE OPENNER TO ME.

(5)
A M Levine,
July 25, 2011 5:20 AM

Thanks for this powerful reminder of essentials.

Thanks for this powerful reminder of essentials, and not to be mislead by "superficial appearances" or over-simplifications about tachlis in this world and HaShem's instruction manual.

(4)
Ambujam,
July 25, 2011 2:10 AM

This article is very true to its every alphabet.

I want to read this article again and again to memorize the points explained in.

(3)
Terry,
July 24, 2011 9:54 PM

A form of thievery?

In a fool's gold world, if you steal money, you're richer.
In reality, if you steal money, you're diminished and poorer.
This applies to the fed res, a bank that lends money to the govt that is empowered to print money w/o borrowing it from anyone. And the taxpayers get stuck paying the interest on the debt. Sort of like stealing in my opinion.
Also the word capital is fools gold since money has no stored value. All it has is purchasing power.

(2)
adina,
July 24, 2011 8:31 PM

beautifully written

love your article its beautiful and full of rich Torah wisdom

(1)
Cedric Levy,
July 24, 2011 5:43 PM

Indwelling God

Beautifully written.
I would further add that not only is everything contained in God, (You write: “This means that everything, including this phantasmagoric physical world, exists within God”.) but that God i s the very centre of every atom, every particle. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz calls this “The Sustaining Utterance”
Everything, including us is sustained by the indwelling God.
Mystics say that we can become aware of this glorious indwelling presence through right thought (meditation) and action.
Our concept of a God floating out there in the galaxies and looking over us as a separate entity us is misguided and slows our spiritual evolution.
Realising His indwelling spirit and allowing Him to do his will through us is the only path for the mystic.
Cedric Levy

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...